Resilient coupling pin



Feb; 16, 1954 E. L. LAUNDER RESILIENT COUPLINGPIN Filed Feb. 13, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

Ernie A. Zad/7a e/ Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,669,153 RESILIENT COUPLING PIN Original application November 4, 1949, Serial No. 125,521. Divided and this application February 13, 1951, Serial No. 210,730

6 Claims. (Cl. 85-8-3) This invention has to do with a fastener or with a construction wherein parts are joined by a unitary fastening device, and it is a general object of the invention to provide a practical, dependable fastener or joint construction characterized by a retainer of the pin type that is easily applied and removed, and which is effective and dependable in action.

tener of the present invention the metal sections are not only alike, generally, but they are elongate in form and have like end portions, and the body of rubber occurs between the metal sections and connects them so that they have limited movement relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the general character referred to in which the metal sections have like end enlargements that form inwardly facing shoulders, and have end faces that are exposed and suitable for engagement by a hammer, or other driving tool or implement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the general character referred to in which the head end portions of each metal section of the fastener projects laterally of the longitudinal axis of the fastener so that they operatev when applied or in working position to maintain the fastener in a predetermined rotative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin type fastener of the general character referred to involving like metal sections and a rubber spreader between the sections, the sections and spreader being so related and proportioned as to substantially fill fastener receiving holes in the parts connected by the fastener.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pin type fastener of the general type referred to which is such that it can be readily driven into and out of operating position where it connects relatively movable parts and which dependably remains in operating position unless deliberately pressed or driven therefrom. A feature of the fastener provided by the present in- 2 vention is that it will dependably remain in op erating position and is not loosened or dislodged by ordinary shocks, strains, vibrations, or other phenomena that usually serve to loosen fastening devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the general character referred to which is simple in construction, which can be easily and quickly operated, and which requires no special tools or equipment for its application or removal.

It is another object of the invention to provide a joint construction including a fastener pin between two relatively movable parts, which pin is so engaged with the said parts as to be normally yieldingly held in position urging the parts in opposite directions. 4 I

It is another object of the invention to provide a joint construction of the general character referred to in which the pin and the connected parts are so related as to maintain the pinin a predetermined rotative position where it exerts pressure on the parts in a predetermined manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction involving two parts to be connected, and a simple, unitary, drive pin that connects the parts and which is strong and efiective, and which involves resilience that acts to maintain the assembly tight and free of play or looseness such as might result in wear or undesirable noise, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking pin or fastener for connecting relatively movable parts, which pin is characterized by like elongate symmetrical metal sections universally movable relative to each other and combined with a .spreader preferably in the form of a body of rubber acting between the sections and normally yieldingly holding them in a predetermined relationto each other and in pres-,- sure engagement'with the connected parts.

The present invention is applicable to or can be incorporated in various structures or machines. The invention can be used in most situations where ordinary bolts or like fasteners are now employed. Without in any Way limiting or restricting the range of use of the invention, I will refer to a few typical fields of use, so that the universal nature of the invention will be fully understood.

Typical uses or applications of the invention may occur in digging or excavating machinery where teeth, bucket parts, and elements generally are required to be secured together. The invention can also be employed, generally, in

connection with vehicles such as motor vehicles, railway equipment, and the various parts and elements that are used in connection therewith, as an example, the invention can be used to advantage in brake rigging for railroad cars, in rai1 jointsgand' in other such situations. Again, the invention can be used in connection with tools, and the like, where cutters, tools, or devices of various kinds are required to be held,

as by shanks, stems, or other mountings... Thev invention can also be used to advantage instructures such as occur in ships, -.-bridges, eto. In other cases the invention cana-belzusedfitoilade vantage in machinery generally as, for instance, in connection with engines, in specialv machines of various kinds, and in the mountingsprovidd for machines or engines, etc. More specifically, the invention is applicable in machines and machinery or parts thereof such as are required -to be connected together, or for the connecting of chain links,'-: etc. 'The: particular: applicationwf the: invention hereinaf-ter -setforth isegiven 'in 'wa'yof example only.

mazconstruction employing the present invention may include a part in the form ot a shank projecting froma bucket orim-plement a-nd havlingvai forwardly 'tapered ordiVerging tip at its :leading end. -A second. part: may be a cap engaged 'o'ver the tip. r A ty-p'ical cap mayhavaa heavy, fiat-=blade'that bears on the. top of the top and which has a sharpened forward end. The".cap has sides that depend from "the edges ofi-the blade-and:v fitcagainstv the sides of the tip and. aare gpreferably. coextensive therewith. .1 A

bottom-connects and-extends: betweenthesides tionainwa direction-lengthwiseof the-tip; Gor

respbndingly shaped and aligned holes are; pro- 'vided in the? sides of the capan'd: are positioned to :bev somewhatvforward of the hole :or opening provided in the tip. at retainerinstheiorm of aipin-.is-engageda throughthe cap and-tipand involves a-body-portion that is received inthe tip andnlike enlargements or:heads'omends of the..-body portion that are. received in the-sholes in -the sides--of the cap. whe -enlargements.or headsbfi thetpin establish inwardly tacing. shoulders that engage the sides of the tip adjacent thehole provided in the. tip- Thepimisoflamihatedor sectional. constructiomandinvolves two Iike..meta1.sections, each substantially semi-circular .in cross section, and a spreaden section, preferably a. bc'dyof rubbervthat is arrangd ibetween and which is preferably bonded to ithe metal. sections, normally. .yieldingly -.urging -them apart and maintaining the. pin: tight iii-connection with the tipand cap. "The ends ofth'epin may beflush'with theiouter'faces ofthe' sides of the cap.

The various obiectsandfeaturesifofmy invention will'b'e fullyunderstood' from thefdllowing detailed description .of' a typical preferred form and application of the. invention; throughout"which' description reference is fmadelto the accompanying drawings; :in which:

} "*Fig. 1' isa front"eleva;'tion of an implement" in the form-of a bucketh'aving aplura'lity of digger teeth projecting therefrom, the teeth'havingthe present 'inventi'ommcorporated:therein. Fig. 2 ls'a'sidefelevationof thestruc'ture shown inFig; "1. "Fig. 3 is an enlargedwiew o'fa portion ofthe structure'sh'own'in -Fig. 1, being 'a' 'view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1, showing the tip portion of a shank and a cap in place on the tip. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in section and being an enlarged View taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged*detailedsectional View taken sub- 'stantially as indicated by line 5-5 '0nFig. 3 and showing the retaining pin in elevation. Fig. 6

--is an enlarged View taken as indicated by line (iii 6-6 onFig. 3, showing the tip of the shank and the"'cap thereon, but not the retaining pin. Fig. 'lPis -a 'view of thee-parts shown in Fig. 6, showwing"; the 'retaining. pin in place in connection with l'iiefi'tip and cap. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the retainingpin. Fig. 9 is a detailed transverse se'otional-view -of the retaining pin taken as inli'catd by line 9 9 on Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 is a detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicatdjby line lfl-ID on Fig. 6.

As hereinabove pointed out the structure providedwbyflthis invention is applicabletoxmachinery and-mechanicah equipment generally. However, sincevitis.particularly.practicaland can perused -to*- advantage in connection with a digger tooth and capn it will be=-described in this; particular application. It-is=t0-be understood, of course, :that as' the invention-sis adapted tmor incorporated in various other machines or-equipment it may Joe -modified or -'varied as circumstances require.

the drawings i an imple'ment in the form of a bucket A -:is shown" provided" with a" plurality of forwardly 1 proj ecting digger i teeth B; Each tooth is shownaasa im olving'a iforwarld'ly projecting-shank in withraflatwfront face I luand aitip 12,-. proj acting forwardifrom the ia'cerof the. shank. Atcapl S-is appIied-to or: over the tip oi the shank andaaretainer Min theiorm of -la' pin releas ably" secures the cap in operating? position on. the tin.

In-thepreferred iformi of:construction the-shank l wand-tip .l formra: rigid unitary'element. aThe tip in 'this-particular caseis one main element of the structure and l is forwardly convergent or tapered and in-theformaillustrated"itfinvolves'a flattforwardlyx extending top 1 15,22; 'flatforwardly extending-bottom l6: and-fiat parallel sides' IT. The top l5- and bottom ificonvergeandcome together-or term-ina-te atv a-forward; point E9.

The can -I 3,--which is .anothenmain part; may varyjfiwidely :in form and" construction, it'ibeing preferably a unit which is applied to-andlwhich encases the ti-p: 1'2. 5 In 'the "caseillustratedthe cap 43 involves a top or'blade"20 with a forwardly sproj ecting'i portion havingaa sharpened edge 21 The blade-.20 is arranged over-and bears on the topj"-' |5-.- o'f the a tip. Sides 2'2 depend-iron: J the edgesmhtheebl'ade:20 and fit-over onagainstiithe side's: Hot-theatip. It-isv preferred that the' sides or cheeks 22 of the cap be made the samesize and shape-asvtheisides H of the tip to be' coextens'ive therewith, as-shown-throughoutthe. drawings; A bottom i 23 joins: .or extends between the 1 lower edge portions: of. the checks 22' and bears on'or fits'against the bottom lfi-ofthe tip.

In-practiee-the tipzabovedescribed is-a fabricated element crunit-thebottom and cheeks being formed or. asheath, shaped and bent. in the cle sired manner; and the Upperfledges of the cheeks Hare-permanently rigidly joined to the -blsss 20-as-by-welding,-=or:-the like. In the" drawings welding material is: shown at 251. permanent-l bondin l-the cheeks 22 to-the blade 20. Inthe particular. casehillustratedca tongue flit-projects from.=the rear or inner end of blade 2B and' eib tends into a suitable socket 3| provided in the front face H of the shank l immediately'above the tip.

The retainer l4 provided by the present invention is in the nature of a pin and to accommodate the retainer a transverse opening 40 is provided through the tip 12 from one side thereof to the other, and openings 4| are provided in the cheeks 22 'of the cap and communicate with the opening 40 in the tip when the cap is in place on the tip. It is preferred that the bore or opening 40 through the tip be elongated somewhat in cross sectional configuration in the direction in which the tip extends or projects from the face I l and, as shown throughoutthe drawings, the openings 4! in the cheeks 22 may be likewise elongatedin cross section.

The retainer pin l4 provided by the' invention is an elongate unit engageable with or applicable to the assembled cap and tip, as by driving, and when in place or operating position it extends through both the cap and the tip and has a body portion X carried or engaged in the opening 46 of the tip while head portions Y engage in or are carried by the openings 4| in thecheeks 22. In accordance with the invention the heads Y of the pin are in the nature of enlargements on the ends of the body portion Xforming inwardly facing or opposed shoulders 50 which engage the sides I! of the tip when the pin is in place (see Fig. 7 of the drawings).

The pin M is a fabricated or sectional structure preferably involving two like metal sections and a center or spreader section 52 that occurs between the metal sections. The metal sections are preferably alike, and extend longitudinally of the pin and each has an outer convex face 55 and an inner flat face 56. In the preferred construction the faces 55 and 56 are so. shaped and proportioned that the body portion, of each metal pin section is substantially semi-circular in cross sectional configuration, as shown in Fig. 9.- The head portion Y of each metal pin section has a convex outer face 51 and an inner face substantially continuous with the inner face of the body section. In the particular case illustrated the flat inner sides 58 of the heads are slightly offset outwardly from the flat face 56 of the body portions. The head portions 51 project from the body portions of the pin sections to establish the opposed shoulders 50 and these shoulders are spaced apart to receive or accommodate the tip in'the manner shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The spreader section 52 normally yieldingly holds the metal sections of the pin apart and in the preferred form of the invention it is a bodyor strip of rubber, or the like, confined between the flat inner faces of the metal pin sections. When I use the term rubber, I means to include not only rubber or compositions containing rubber, but I means to include any material or composition or combination of materials that may have the charactertistics of rubber or that will serve in the construction as will a pad of rubber, or the like. It is preferred to permanently bond the rubber spreader 52 to the metal sections of pin so that these parts form a permanent or unitary assembly. By making the spreader or pad of rubber substantially coextensive with the flat iv ner sides of the metal section, the pin, when in place, completely occupies the openings in the connected parts and thus eliminates dangerof fouling by foreign matter or dirt that might otherwise' enter-the structure. In the preferred 6. form of the invention the outer end corners 60 of the pin are preferably beveled or dressed away to facilitate entrance of the pin into the openings 40 and 4|. Further, the outer ends 60- of the heads on the metal sections are preferably flat and in planes normal to the longitudinal axis of the pin so they form faces receiving a hammer or other driving tool.

The retainer pin constructed as above described and as clearly illustrated in the drawings, particularly Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, is applied after the cap !3 has been engaged over the tip 12. The pin is introduced from one side of the structure, that is, through one of the holes M in the cap and the parts are so arranged and proportioned that for complete introduction of the pin it must be forced or driven into place in the cours of which operation it passes through the opening 48 in the tip and finally projects into the other opening M in the cap. With a preferred relationship of parts the end faces Iii] of the pin sections are flush with the outer faces of the cheeks 22 when the pin is in working position. As the pin is driven or forced into place the retainer section 52 thereof is compressed or deformed, putting the body of rubber under pressure so that it normally yieldingly urges the metal sections of the pin apart. When the pin is in place, as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, it bears against the forward wall of opening 40, as indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 7, and bears against the rear walls of the openings 4|, as indicated by the arrows "b in 7. As the pin thus exerts pressure on the tip and cap these parts are held securely or tightly engaged or wedged together and the pin will remain in operating position due to the shoulders 58 engaging the sides I! of the tip. The shoulders 56 are made of such extent or shape as to effectively maintain the pin in position under working conditions. However, it is possible to apply suiiicient force or pressure to the pin, as by driving, to dislodge it when necessary. This can be done by striking the pin with a hammer, or the like.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A retaining pin of the character described including, two like rigid separate elongate metal sections extending longitudinally of the pin from one end to the other thereof, and a rubber pad between and spacing the sections apart laterally of the pin, the pad being substantially coextensive with the pin sections and permanently bonded thereto, each section having an elongate body and like heads at the ends of the body projecting from the body laterally of the pin only in the direction that the sections are spaced laterally by the pad, the heads establishing laterally extending shoulders at the ends of the body and opposing each other, the normal thickness of the pad between the sections being substantially greater than the projection of the shoulders laterally of the body.

A retaining pin of the character described including, two substantially identicalrigid separate elongate metal sections extending longitudinally of the pin from one end to the other thereof, and a rubber pad between and spacing the sections apart laterally of the pad, the pad being a sence substantially. ooextensivenvith thee-sections :a-ndpermanently. bonded. thereto; each section having an elongatesbody substantially semi-circular in cross-section Pand like. heads: at; the ends of the body p-rojecting :from the body-- laterally of the pin and establishing laterallyextendi-ng shoulders at. the.- ends' of the :body .andwopposing: each. other, the spacing of the sections by theipadtbeingof substantially. greater extent than the shoulders laterally of the body and? the heads .ofthe two sections projecting from .the'bodies in opposite directions relative to thepad.

.3. A retaining. pin of the charactervdescribed including. two like. rigid separate elongate metal sections extending.longitudinally of the pin from. one end to the other thereof, and a rubberpad between-and spacing thesections apart laterally of. the; pin, the pad beingsubstantially coextensivewiththe pin sections-and permanently bondedtthereto, each section havinganelongatebcdy andflike heads atthe ends of the body. projecting tromthe body laterally of ,the pinonlyin the directiontthat the. sections are spaced laterally by the pad, the heads establishing laterallyextending. shoulders-v at the ends of the body and opposing each other, th normal thickness of the pad between the sections being substantially greater than the projection .ofth shoulders laterally of the body, .the bodie having portions adjoiningthe heads-whichz portions have convexly eurved .-exterio1's and are the parts of thebodies of maximum extenttransverselyof the pin.

-.-4.-A retaining..-pin..of the character, described including,-. two like rigid-separate elongat metal sections-extending longitudinally of'the pin from one end-:to. the other thereof, anda rubber pad between and spacing; the-sections: apart laterally of: the 1pm,: the "pad being substantially coextensive lwi-th thexpin sections v and- .=1oerma-nently bonded thereto, eachisection havingranzelongate body and like 'headsiat the ends of. the .body projecting from the body laterally of the pin only-in the. direction that the sections are-spaced laterally by the pad, the heads establishing. laterally extending shoulders-at theends ofthe. body and opposing eachother, the normal thickness of the between the sections being substantially greater than the projection of the shoulders; laterallyoof the body, the exteriors of the heads and theexteriorsof thebodies adjacenttheheads being convexly curved and having substantially the same radius, the exteriorlofueach head being curs/ed about .a. center. spaced from the-center of curvalture oiihe body portiorrlad iacent thereto-in adirectionawayirom the pad. 1

5. A retaining pin of the character described inc1uding-,;-.twol like rigid; separate elongat metal sections-extendingslongitudinally of.'the; in. from one end; to the .ot-her-:.thereof,.-and .a rubbenpad between and spacing the-.sections .apart laterally oi -the. pin, ,theipad-tbeingf. substantially coextensive --with rtherupmwsections .and permanently bonded thereto;.eachs.sectiomhaving an elongate body- .and llike. heads at the. ends of the body bodily .ofisetrelatiVe-.to.-.the body to=project from the.:body laterally. of; the. nintonlyt-inlthecdireca tion. that. the .sections. arespaced laterally by. the

pad. the. heads.establishing,laterally-extending,

shouldersat the. .endsof \the. body; and Opposing, each other, the normal thickness of thewpadubetween vthe... sectionsJaeing substantially ,greater than. the, .proj ection .ofMthe. shoulders laterally .01-

thebody.

-..6...A.retaining .,pin..oftheycharacter...described.

including. two like; rigid. separate,elongatemetal.

sections extendinglongitudinally of.lthe pinirom.

one endutontheother thereof, and .a substantially flat rubber nad1.between and;.separating. the sections and..dispose'd.,..diametrically ,of the: pin. and substantially coextensive with the sections and permanentlybonded.thereto, each section having an elongate body extendinglengthwise, of. the pin and .of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and-haying like. heads adjoining the;..ends.v of the body and bodily offset from the body laterally oft-the pin .and'.in adirection. normal to. the,plane of, the; pad, the ex-. teriors of the heads ,2 and. "the exteriors .of the bodies being, convexand of. substantially j the same radius, the. exteriors of"'each'...headi being curve-d. about an axis spaced, from the axis'of' curvature .ofthe" body adjacent theretoinr a .,direction. away from; tire-pad normal toxthe; plane thereof:

"ERN'IEYL: IZ'AUN'DER.

" References Gite'd in '"the""'flle=' 0f-this patent STATESLPATENTS Number" I Name Date I 352;342. ?-Wood;; .-i-Nov.; 2331.886 1 845,121. :Renifi, Blobs-26, -1907- "2300;658? rEinch ;Noy. 3.09.1937 --2',259,456- ..Crawford: .Oct. 2-1, 1941 '2:,279;960 .-:Apr.; 144.1942. 2,310,016 .-;Doberstein Eeb I2., .-.19.43 -23568;0'15 iLaunder Sept;a18; 51951.- 

